Fountain pen



Patented Nev. ze, 1927.

UNITED 1 STATES A WILLIAM E.v STEWART, or NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FOUNTAIN TEN.

Application led December 14, 1926. Serial No. 154,709'.

The general object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen having new and improved illing mechanism and especially a t new, simple and advantageous arrangement of ink chambers, filling and pen feeding passages, fillingl tube, valves and valve controlling `means co-operating with a tubular filling plunger or piston. n An additional object is to provide a new and improved snap or spring cap fastener. The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently explained in connection with the following detail description ofl the .accompanying drawing, which shows one representative embodiment of the invention. y After considering lthis eX- ample, skilled persons will understand that many variations-may be made, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope ofthe appended clalms.

Fig. l is a longitudinal section of a structure embodying the invention in one form. Figy2 isa section at 2-2,`Fig. 1. l Fig. 3 is a partial section showing the arts in different operative position from that of Fig. 1.

The tubular body 1 has at the upper end an'extension 2 of reduced diameter externally threaded and at the'in'ner end of this extension the main cylindrical bore 3 of the body terminates at a shoulder 4. The outer surface of the body near its lower end is tapered, as at 5 and this end of the body has an internal screw'thread 6. Secured in the lower end of the bodyl by connection with this screw thread is a structure which may vary greatly in detail, that is to say,

it may be made in one or` more parts and the form of the .parts mayvary, the example given bein an approved structure which is preferre in some cases, largely because of manufacturing economy and convenience of assembly. A tubular connector 7 is threaded externally at its inward end to engage the internal thread 6 of the body, and

1s provided with a stop shoulder 8 to engage the end oftthe body. Outwardly from the shoulder the'connector has a' portion 9 .50 of somewhat reduced diameter, internally screw threaded. A sleeve 10, which for convenience may be called the pen holder, has a reduced Ainward extension 11 threaded to engage in the internal screw thread of the connector. At the base of the threaded ortion is a shoulder 12 to engage the en of the connector. A feeder body 13 is inserted and secured by a tight fit or otherwise in he tubular pen holder. The inner end of the feeder body is arranged with relation to the pen holder extension l1, so as to provide therein a chamber 14 which communicateswith the larger chambervl within the lnward end of the connector, these chambers directly connectingand providing inl; spaces, and also accommodating the valves and valve spring referred to later. The pen point 15"l is inserted and secured as usual between the feeder body and the pen holder, and the feeder body vis provided with a feed channel 16 leading to ink chamber 14. The feeder body is centrally bored from itsinward end to provide a filling duct or channel17, this terminating at 18. From the under side of the feeder body a filling hole 19 is drilled communicating with the filling channel. C A filling tube'20 is located centrally with 1n the body, its lower end extending substantially within the filling channel 17. On this `tube is a conical valve 21 co-operating with the inner end of the filling channel as l a seat. Also on the tube is a disc valve 22 co-operatmg with a seat disc 23 inserted with a tight or press fit in a shallow counterbore 24 in the inner end of the connector. In this valve seat disc is a central hole 25 dimensioned to provide substantial clearance about -the filling tube or an enlargement 26 thereon, which may be provided as a' part,

of the disc valve 22. A helical spring 27 is located about the filling tube and compressed between the inner end of the filler body and the disc valve-22 and when unrestrained, moves the tube upward and thereby places the valve 22 in closed position .and valve'21 in open position. A tubular 'piston or filling fplunger 30 extends through the major part of the barrel or body 1 above the en holder and valve structure. This inclu es an upper portion 31, diametered for a close sliding fit in the barrel eX- tension 2 and a lowerl portion 32 dimen-s sioned for a close sliding fitin the main bore 3 of the barrel. These portions are de fined by a shoulder 33 and a packing washer 34 is located against this shoulder. The upper plunger portion terminates in a head 35 annularly channeled to provide a fin er gri 36.- A compressible packing or was er 37 1s located against the inner` face of the head to eso-operate with the upper end'of l the filling tube. The upper end of the barrel is closed and the head of the plun er is housed by an upper cap 38 internally threaded to engage the thread onthe barrel extension 2. This top cap tightly seals the upper end of the barrel and. prevents any possible leakage at this point, and also has an active function in co-operation with the plunger head and filling tube to definitely move the valves to one position or retain them therein.

lThe pen and adjacent parts are enclosed by the main or bottom cap 40, as usual, but a novel and improved quick acting or snap fastener` is provided for the cap, to avoid the loss of time involved in the ordinary operation of screwing and unscrewing this cap. For this purpose a ring 41 is inserted connector flange 8.

in the inward portion of the cap against a shoulder 42 therein. The ring has an internal channel 43 and in this channel is located a split spring ring' 44 of generally oval or ovate form, as shown in lFig. 2. The outer portion or extension 9 of the connector 7 is provided at a short-distance from its outer end with an annular channel 45, and the outer end ofthe extension is slightly rounded or tapered, asat 46. When the cap is moved inward to closed position the spring ring 44 opens slightly as it passes over the outward end of the connector, this spring action being facilitated by the tapered or rounded end formation thereof, and then when the spring comes to the plane of the annular channel 45 it snaps intothe channel and retains the cap firmly in position with the' against theA inner face of ring 41 restin Althoug the cap is securely held, it may be quickly and easily removed by a straight outward pull without waste of time for screwing action, and is easily replaced. The inward portion of the main cap is also internally dimensioned to have a friction fit on the upper cap 38 for the convenient location of the main cap while writing, as usual.

Fig. 1 shows the parts in position for writing after removal of the main or bottom cap 40. The inner face lof the top or head of the top cap 38 engages the lupper end of the head 35 of the filling plunger, and compressible washer 37 located against the' inner face of the plunger head engages-the upper end of the filling tube and holds the conical valve 21 with yleldable pressure on its seat,

thus closing the filling passage 17 at its in# nerl end. Spring 27 is compressed and -disc A valve 22 ismaintained in openposition, so that inkmay iiow from the main ink chamber, which is thephollow interior of the filling plunger, through the clearance s ace 25` to the ink chambers 15 and 14 and so t rough thel feed channel 16 to the pen.4 When it is necessary to fill the'pen, the pen end of the structure is immersed in ink-suciently' to bring the'filling hole 19 below the ink surplunger by engagement of valve 22 with its l seat, and establishing communication between the filling channel 17 and chamber' 14 by movement of valve 21 from its seat. As the plunger'is pulled out therefore, ink is drawn in through hole 19, channel 17 and through the lling tube, emerging at the upper end-of the tube and fiowing back into the main reservoir, that is, the interior of the hollow filling plunger. When the plunger is returned tov normal position any trapped air is forced out through the lling, tube, channel 17 and hole 19. Finally the top cap 38 is screwed back in normal position and when it is -fully seated, the filling tube and valves are repositioned, as shown in Fig. 1, ready for writing, in a manner which is obvious from preceding explanal claim: s

l. A fountain pen comprising a lower structure including meansfor holding a pen point, said lower structure having therein a feed channel and a filling channel, a` filling 'p within the vfilling plunger and in another position of the plunger to close the filling channel and establish connection Abetween the reservoir and the feed channel.

2. A fountain pen comprising a barrelz a tubular filling plunger, a lower structure 1ncluding means for holding'a pen point and providlng an ink chamber, the lower structure also including distinct feed and lling channels communicating with the chamber, a partition also arranged as a valve seat between the. ink chamber and the reservoir 'provided by the' barrel and interior of the plunger, a reciprocable filling tube communicating with the filling channel, a valve p on the tube adapted to close thelillin channel and a valve on the tube adapte to c0- loperate with the-'partition which acts as a valve seat to close communication between the ink chamber and reservoir.

l 3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a-

tubular filling plunger, a. lower structure mcludin means for olding a pen point and providing an ink chamber, the lower structure also-including distinct `feed* and filling channels commumcating with the chamber,- a partition also arran as a valve seat between the ink cham r and the reservoir provided .by the barrel and interiorof the plunger,

a reciprocable filling tube communicating with the filling channel, a valve on the tube adaptedto close the filling channel, a valve on the tube adapted to co-operate with the partition which acts as a valve seat to close communication between the ink chamber and reservoir, and a spring urging the filling tube and valves in one direction.

4. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a-

tubular filling plunger, a lower structure including means for holding a pen point and` providing an ink chamber, the lower structure also including distinct feed and filling channels communicating with the chamber, a partition also arranged as a valve seat between the ink chamber andthe reservoir provided by the barrel and interior of the plunger, a reciprocable filling tube communicatlng with the filling channel, a valve on the tube adapted to close thel filling channel,N

a valve on the tube adapted to co-operate with the partition which acts as a valve seat to close communication between the ink chamber and reservoir, and a spring action on the filling tube and valves and tending to move the first named valve to open position and the last named valve to closed position.

5. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a tubular filling plunger, a lower structure including means for holding a pen point and providing an ink chamber, the lower structure also including distinct feed and filling channels communicating with the chamber, a

partition also arranged as a valve seat be tween the ink chamber and the reservoir provided by the barrel and interior of the plungp er, a reciprocable filling tube communicating with the filling channel, a valve on the tube adapted to close the filling channel, la valve on the tube adapted to (zo-operate with the partition which acts as a valve seat to close communication between the ink chamber and reservoir, the filling plunger having a head,

and a compressible member therein co-oper-V ating with the ad'acent end of the filling tube to move the tu e and operate the valves.

6. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a connector detachably inserted win yone end thereof, a pen holder extending from the connector, a feeder body co-operating with the pen holder to retain a pen pointuand having a feed channel leading to the pen point, inward portionsof the pen holder and'connector providingan ink chamber2 a disc at the inward end of said chamber havlng acentral aperture, the feeder body having a central bore leading to theink chamber and a filling hole communicating with said bore, a filling tube having one end reciprocably located in said bore, a valve on the tube in the ink chamber to co-oper 'te with the innerend of the feeder body and therein, another valve on the filling tube to (2o-operate with said partition and close the aperture therein through which' the filling4 tube passes, a spring normally acting on the tube and valves to move them to one position, and a tubular filling plunger. in the barrel having a head at its Iouter end and a compressible washer within the head arranged and positioned to co-operate with the upper end of the filling tube to move and hold the valves in another position.l

7. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a connector detachablyfinserted in one end thereof, a en holder extending from the connector, a eeder body co-operating with the pen holder to retain a pen oint and having a feed channel leading to the pen point, inward portions of the pen holder and connector providing an ink chamber, adisc at the inward end of said chamber having a central aperture, the. feeder body ihaving a central bore leading to the inklchamber and a filling hole communicating'with said bore, a filling tube having one end reciprocablylocated in said bore, a valve on the tube in the ink chamber toco-operate with the inner end of the feeder body and close the filling bore therein, another valve on the filling tube to co-operate vwith said partition and close the filling bore close the aperture therein through which the .Y

filling tube passes, a spring normally acting on the tube and valves to move them to one position, a tubular filling plungerl in `the barrel having 'a head at its outer end and WILLIAM E. STEWART. 

